Release No. 228-14

Contact:

Hakim Fobia (202) 690-0488

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2015 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has revised the U.S. Standards for Grades of Maple Syrup. The revision defines quality factors and establishes new color determinations for Grade A. The grade of syrup will be determined based on flavor, odor, damage, and turbidity or cloudiness. Further, the spelling of the product in the standard was changed from “sirup” to “syrup.”

The revision is intended to foster the development of new or expanded markets, and improve the marketing of maple syrup in the United States and internationally. Currently, five states regulate maple syrup. In the absence of state regulations, many states use federal standards as a reference for buying purposes.

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revised the grade standards based on a petition from the maple syrup industry and on public comments received through a May 2014 Federal Register notice. AMS works with industry representatives and others to establish and revise U.S. standards for nearly 240 agricultural products. Industry uses the standards to specify the quality of commodities in the marketplace. Standards facilitate commerce by providing a common language for trade and a means of measuring the value of agricultural products.

The notice revising the U.S. Standards for Grades of Maple Syrup will be published in the Jan. 29, 2015, Federal Register and will be effective March 2, 2015. To view the Federal Register publication, please visit www.regulations.gov.

You can access the revised maple syrup standards after the effective date at: www.ams.usda.gov/scihome.

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